The Principal Judge, Dr. Flavian Zeija, has described the training of Judicial Officers on New Rules and Practice Directions as a significant milestone in the Judiciary journey towards a more efficient, transparent, and accessible Judiciary.
This he said while presiding over the opening ceremony of the Central Region workshop on New Rules and Practice Directions at Silver Springs Hotel.
He said, "the new Rules and Practice Directions are generally intended to streamline case management processes, reduce case backlog, ensure timely delivery of justice and to enhance public trust in the Judicial system."
He said the Training was important for users to know how the new Rules and Practices Directions are applied in all given set circumstances. Adding that their success largely depended on the way they would apply them in the various cases.
"I wish to emphasize that for the new Rules and Practice Directions to achieve the intended purposes, the need for all Judicial Officers to act professionally and with integrity cannot be over emphasized, because some of the new Rules are a result of persistent complaints of injudicious conduct on the part of some of our judicial officers, especially the misuse of judicial discretion," he said.
The Principal Judge encouraged participants to share any identified gaps, if at all any, with the JTI team for revision by the Judiciary Case Backlog Monitoring Committee.
The JTI Executive Director, Lady Justice Damalie N Lwanga thanked the Principal Judge for officiating at the workshop.
She noted that the training aligns with one of the key mandates of the JTI which is conducting continuous trainings because of the ever-evolving emerging issues, changes in the society and trends.
Lady Justice Lwanga said the training is purposed to empower and enhance knowledge of Judicial Officers on the new rules.
In attendance, Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga (Judge Anti-Corruption Court and Focal Judge on Plea Bargaining), HW Mulalira Faisal Umar (Deputy Registrar JTI) and Magistrates Grade I attached to JTI.
HW Prossy Katushabe, Registrar JTI moderated the ceremony.
Ruth Ashaba & Danielle Nalukenge